Apple Watch Series 3 Can Now Track Snowboarding and Skiing

Hot on the heels of the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, Apple has added the ability to track two major snow-related sports to the Apple Watch Series 3.

Starting today, skiers and snowboarders running watchOS 4.2 can use their wearable to track detailed activity data about their respective sports. That includes a variety of specialized snowboarding- and skiing-related metrics, Apple said in a statement on Wednesday.

Apple Watch users can now record their number of runs, the total vertical descent and horizontal distance statistics, total time spent skiing or snowboarding, and calories burned during those activities.

All of these metric recordings rely on the Apple Watch’s built-in GPS and altimeter, but Apple has freshly introduced custom APIs for developers so that they can include snowboarding and skiing activity tracking into their apps.

Apple said that current app updates for snoww, Slopes, Squaw Alpine, Snocru and Ski Tracks can track these new metrics as of today. With permission, these apps can contribute data to the Health app and add credit to a user’s Activity rings. Slopes and snoww users will also be able to use Siri to activate their runs recordings via voice command.

Supported apps also track other metrics, too. Along with the previously mentioned statistics, Squaw Alpine and snoww will also track time spent on chairlifts versus time spent on trails. Apple added that additional applications and app updates with the new snow sport tracking will be released in the near future.

“Having the ability to track the details of runs with Apple Watch is an incredible asset for everyone from training athletes to skiers and riders just looking to have fun and stay active,” Olympic Moguls Gold Medalist Jonny Moseley said in a statement.

The snowboarding and skiing tracking ability is only the latest step toward Apple’s goal of making its Watch one of the most well-rounded fitness trackers on the market. In recent years, Apple has only become increasingly focused on its devices’ use in the health, wellness and fitness spheres.

Application updates with the new activity tracking are currently available on the Apple App Store. They require an Apple Watch Series 3 running watchOS 4.2 or later.